Kim Dotcom’s “privacy company” Mega is developing secure email services to run on its entirely non-US -based server network as intense pressure from US authorities force other providers to close.

Last week Lavabit, which counted NSA leaker Edward Snowdon as a user, and Silent Circle both closed. Lavabit’s owner, Ladar Levison, said it he was shutting down to avoid becoming “complicit in crimes against the American people”.

Last week Mega chief executive Vikram Kumar told ZDNet the company was being asked to deliver secure email and voice services.